Momentary Musings while reading The NPA Theory Of Personality. Random Thoughts series 11 of 12.

Image credits: Michael Donovan Photography

Is there a submissive personality type?

Yes. According to the NPA Theory of Personality what we in the lifestyle refer to as a submissive is categorized as the “Compliant Type of the inhibited aggressive character types.” I’ve spent endless amounts of time analyzing the minds of people and personality types. I think the MBTI types are a good determination of how one inputs information. I think the Enneagram types are a good determination of how a person exhibits a Dominant personality or a submissive personality out in the world. But I think the NPA theory best (not exactly for everyone, but best) nails down how a submissive personality manifests itself as a whole.

The following is from A. M. Benis’s NPA Theory of Personality.

It contains excerpts from-

Benis A.M. (1985, 2nd edition 2008: NPA Theory of Personality): Chaps. 5 & 6, in Toward Self & Sanity: On the genetic origins of the human character,Psychological Dimensions, New York, pp. 60-62, 128-131.

Benis A.M. (1990) : A theory of personality traits leads to a genetic model for borderline types and schizophrenia. Speculations in Science and TechnologyVol. 13, No. 3, 167-175.

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Compliant Type ( C )- passive aggressive, or submissive, types are those in whom the trait of aggression is profoundly inhibited by genetic and/or environmental factors.

In non-compliant passive aggressive types the trait of aggression is only partially, but not profoundly, suppressed. (n-C types)

In compliant types the aggression trait is profoundly suppressed, so that whatever the circumstances they tend not exhibit aggressive behavior in social situations. They can exhibit the rage, but this is very very rare. Compliant types typically tend to be introverted and may seek a lifestyle involving little responsibility and much protection. Sexually promiscuous individuals are vulnerable to abuse and may have a tendency toward masochistic behavior.

Genotype: nnPaa-, nnPPaa-, nnPa-a- or nnPPa-a-. In addition, unusual cases of nnPaa or nnPPaa (phenocopies based on environmental conditioning).

Expression of rage: Common rage seen in type N (narcissistic) types {mass discharge of parasympathetic nervous system, what looks like a volatile uncalculated outburst}, or common rage seen in type A (aggressive) types {mass discharge of sympathetic nervous system, what looks like calculated vindictive outburst}, or combined NA rage; In most type C (compliant) types is very rarely seen.

Type C types are also seen as; Quiet achievers, passive aggressive, depressive, masochistic, submissive or as “The shrinking violet.”

Complexion: Tending toward sanguine or flushed in individuals of light skin color.

Smile: Warm smile when at ease. Otherwise nervous smile. .

Photograph: Uncomfortable before camera in unfamiliar settings.

Gestures: Reserved and tentative.

Handwriting: Neat and legible, as a slave writing for his masters.

Sexuality: Tendency to promiscuity: low. Tendency to ambivalence in sexual orientation: moderate.

Personality trait susceptibilities: Shyness. Masochism. Sadomasochistic “morbid dependency” as the dependent partner. Social phobia. Reactive depression. Dependent, avoidance personality disorder. Periodic (schizophreniform) psychosis. Relatively low risk of schizophrenia in non passive aggressive compliant types, higher risk of schizophrenia in passive aggressive compliant types.

From Chapter 5: A model of human behavior

Compliant types

This introverted individual carries the mottos, “I am the most unselfish, the most sympathetic and the most loving,” or “I will do anything, but anything for you so long as you protect me for the rest of my life.”

They have, without realizing it, renounced their aggressive tendencies in early childhood, hence has been reduced to a shadow of their human genetic potential. They may be self-conscious, a painfully shy “shrinking violet” and be easy prey to any aggressive type. They may have a strong feeling, or a vague uncomfortable suspicion, that all was not well during their very early childhood. Somehow, they feel and act as if, in the deep recesses of their mind, they were ashamed of something that they are, guilty of something that they did wrong or something they should have done right, or were somehow, somewhere deeply humiliated before others.

Being defenseless, and easily frightened, they fear any demands to be made upon him, particularly those forcing them into any position of responsibility. In fact, the words “responsibility,” “ambition,” “career,” or “success” are taboo to them, and may send shivers down their spine. If they find themselves in a hierarchical structure, they rather stay right where they are. They certainly don’t want to move up to a position of greater responsibility, and they will invoke the “Peter Principle” in their defense. That is, they will say that they do not want to exceed the limits of their capabilities, which despite intensive rationalization, must have become painfully obvious to them.

Although their aggressive qualities have been suppressed into profound submission, they are nevertheless latently present. they do “play the game” but instinctively feel themselves helpless at the bottom of the “pecking order.” In his helplessness, their only salvation in life is to offer to all comers helpfulness, love, sympathy, compassion and self-sacrifice.

In love relationships the “shrinking violet” flourishes into a “clinging vine,” and they “fall in love,” in the form of the dependency, with almost any strong individual. They wish everything done for them, while in return they offer little else than the promise of his total personal abandon to “true love.”

In their insatiable desire to achieve safety in the promises of protection and love, they may become vulnerable to abuse by others, and in fact, may come to feel that they are abused although this may be a possible delusion of perspective. They find themselves in the position of offering themselves up to be abused in order to fulfill the needs of their own character structure and to find satisfaction in their life. Hence, it is in this character structure that we find the roots of masochism, that is, the finding of satisfaction in life through being abused by others. They may, in fact, be overtly sexually masochistic.

From Chapter 6: Character caricatures

Compliant types

This individual’s character structure, whatever its resultant complexity and whatever their real accomplishments in life, seems to be constructed around a feeling of shame. They are introverts. They have the so-called “inferiority complex.”

They may be blandly passive or a true “shrinking violet.” They have a low, restrained voice, and are not articulate. Their countenance suggests a trace of sadness. Their movements are tentative and their gestures reserved. Their eye contact with others is poor, as they display the averted eyes of a slave before his masters, which in this case includes almost everyone with whom they come in contact with. They shrink in the presence of kings, but also in the presence of shopkeepers.

Meeting people in a business or social situation is an ordeal for them. They tend to forget names as soon as the introductions are uttered. If they are required to make the introductions themselves, their mind goes blank and they may enter a state of panic. They are very uncomfortable before a group of strangers. They live in fear of being called upon to speak extemporaneously. If they must give a speech they will write it out word for word or commit it to memory, fearing that their mind will go blank when it comes time to deliver it. When they do deliver it, their nervousness is apparent, all the more so if their audience is hostile or in the least bit threatening.

They will be uncomfortable and feel anxious if they must go to a social function where strangers will be present. What they fear most is a medium-sized group of six to twelve people, where they might suddenly become the center of attention. Paradoxically, though, they yearn for the presence of others, and to stay home in loneliness may be a state of shame that they try to avoid or hide at all costs.

They have a poor self-image but do not try to bolster it. Even though they may possess the narcissistic traits, they tend not to adorn themselves excessively. Their dress is usually reserved and may be outright shabby. In fact, any state of ostentatiousness is alien to them. If they see themselves suddenly in a mirror they may startle themselves, and they are not particularly enamored by what they see. They may at times consciously wish that they were not themselves, but someone else.

Having renounced competitiveness, they have all of their pride invested in helping others and in trying to please them. They are in a self-effacing way overhelpful, overkind, overcaring and oversympathetic. Their handwriting, written as it is for the benefit of others, is nicely legible. And in their pride they see themselves, not as a selfish person whose claim is to be cared for throughout their journey through life, but as a selfless saint who is indispensable to his boss or to his mate and family.

Their taboo on competitiveness and on any other aspirations for themselves pervades their entire life, from their important decisions of how to gain their livelihood and whom to marry, to the less important ones regarding the minutiae of their daily existence. Feeling as they do as a stowaway on the ship of life, they fear that if they do anything implying independence from their protector then they might suddenly find themselves in a lifeboat, alone at sea and having to fend for themselves in the struggle for survival in this hostile world.

In space and time, they are something of a lost soul. They may have a magic circle, of ten-mile radius, from which they dare not leave. They may have only the vaguest idea of the locations of nearby states, cities or townships. They may not have the slightest idea where the maze of highways near their home actually leads. If they go on a trip, they enjoys themselves as they are piloted about by their protector, but they will have only the slightest idea of geographical terms where they have been. They are totally incapable of reading maps or transportation schedules, and may ascribe this inability to some kind of learning disability. In fact, if they are not taken somewhere, they may not dream of going alone. Hence, in contrast with the resigned type whose pride is vested in complete independence, the compliant type has all of their pride invested in complete dependence on their protector, protectors or subjugator.